. >> the prime minister gave the house an update on the eu negotiations on the budget, and he will know that regional aid, which comes from the eu, plays an important role for some of the regional assemblies when it comes to attracting inward investment. will he update the house on the continuation of regional aid? >> the outcome of the budget leaves the amount of overall regional aid that britain will receive broadly similar to the last period at around 11 billion. there are changes in the definitions of regions, partly because of the new concept of transition regions. what we now need to do is to sit down, as the united kingdom, and work out how best to make sure that the money is fairly divided between wales, northern ireland, scotland and england. there are transition regions in england that are looking to benefit, but i am sure that we can have fruitful discussions and come to a good conclusion. >> is my right honorable friend amused that the leader of the opposition and the deputy prime minister are both trying to claim credit for his brilliant achievement of a real-terms cut in t